Clothesline cleaner



T. ESPOSITO 2,255,154 Y CLOTHESLINE CLEANER Sept. 9, 1941.v

Filed Feb. `2'7, 1940 In venor onza/5 EIS/basl' 1o By ma..

orney Patented Sept. 9, 1941 Unirse cLotrniisLrNE CLEANER ThomasEsposito, South Orange, N. J., assignor of one-half to J olm W. Fiore,Orange, N. J.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cleaners for clothes lines and similardevices, and has for the primary object the provision of a device ofthis character which may be installed on the mounting of a clothes linewith the latter eXtending therethrough so that prior to hanging clothesor other articles on the line, said line may be caused to pass throughthe device throughoutits length for eiciently removing dirt and otherforeign matter therefrom, obviating any possibility of the clothes hungon the line becoming dirty or soiled by having direct contact with saidline.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 isa side elevation illustrating an endless clothes line equipped with acleaner constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one of the parts ofthe cleaner which is adapted to apply water or other cleaning fluid tothe clothes line.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the liquid applyingdevice spread or opened to permit the insertion or removal of theclothes line therefrom.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View illustrating another part of thepresent invention and ernployed for drying the line.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a clothesline of the endless type supported by pulleys B. The pulleys arejournaled in mountings 'I of a conventional construction and which maybe attached to supporting posts 8 in a well known manner. The beforedescribed parts merely briefly set forth an endless type clothes lineand its mountings for the purpose of illustrating the application of thepresent invention to such a device. It is to be understood that theinvention may be used on clothes lines other than the endless type.

A liquid applying device 9 receives one of the runs of the clothes lineas clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing while the other run of theclothes line passes through a drying device Ill.

The cleaning and drying devices 9 and Ill are provided with brackets IIengageable with one of the mountings 'I and retained thereon by setscrews I2. The brackets II secured to the mountings as shown in Figure 1of the drawing will prevent the liquid applying device and the dryingdevice from moving with the clothes line when the latter is caused totravel over the pulleys.

The liquid applying device consists of a tubular shaped metallic casingI3 in which is located a core I4 constructed of spongy rubber or othersuitable material. The core I4 has a bore I5 extending from end to endthereof and through which the upper run of the clothes line passes. Themetallic casing I3 as well as the core are slit longitudinally from endto end and the slit of the core communicates with the bore I5 thereof.The slits of the casing and core align so that the casing may be flexedopen as well as the core to permit the easy insertion of the clothesline into the bore of the core. The metallic casing is provided with aseries of perforations or openings I6 so that water or other cleaningliuid may be supplied to the core for absorption thereby. It is to beunderstood that the cleaning device 9 may be removed from the mountingand submerged into water or other liquid whenever it is desired to givethe device a thorough cleaning. After the application of the cleaningdevice on the clothes line a movement of the latter thorugh the bore ofthe core will thoroughly saturate the clothes line with water or otheruid for softening and otherwise aiding in the loosening of foreignmaterial which may be adhering to the clothes line. The movement of theclothes line as specified also travels through the drying device I0 forremoving the foreign matter along with the water or moisture placing theline in a clean condition for the hanging of -clothes and other articlesthereon without danger of soiling.

The cleaning device I0 includes a metallic casing Il constructedsimilarly to the casing I3 except for the openings or perforations.Located in the casing I'I is a core I8 having a bore I9 through whichthe line extends or the lower run thereof, as clearly shown in Figure l.The core I8 is also slit to align with the slit in the casing I'I topermit the easy and quick application of the lower run of the line intothe bore of the core I8.

In actual use the core I8 made of felt is an extremely elicient core forthe drying of the clothes line. However, other absorbing materials maybe employed if desired. Further, it is to be understood that themetallic casings are capable of being flexed SQ as to permit opening ofthe cores conned therein for the application and removal of the line.

A device of this kind is easily applicable to a clothes line and itsmounting and will eilciently remove dirt and other foreign matter fromthe line placing the latter in proper condition for the support ofclothing and like articles Without the danger of soiling the latter.Furthermore, it will be seen that the device can be manufactured andsold at a comparatively lovv cost.

It is believed that the foregoing description, When taken inconnectionwith the drawing, will fully set forth the construction andadvantages of this invention to those skilled in the .art .to

which such a device relates, so that further detailed description willnot be required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a device of the character described, a metallic tubular shapedcasing, a core in said casing and having a bore to receive a clothesline, said core being of a liquid absorbing and applying material, saidcasing having a Vplurality of openings to admit liquid to the corethereof, a bracket carried by said casing for detachably mounting thelatter onto a support of a clothes line.

THOMAS ESPOSITO.

